Guest: Seth should be in a relationship with Artemis/ Thank you for voting!

Alice Nyte: Ill put my vote down for Thalia! Good chapter!/ Thank you for voting, and the compliment.

this chapter is 3630 words, including these little author notes. I have over 4000 views now so thank you everyone who reads this story.

The Heart Of The Maze - chapter 24

"You are all mad!" Ethan panted. They had stopped running after they couldn't hear the army anymore. Rachel had seemed to know exactly where they were going, like Seth did. Mrs. O'Leary had disappeared in the maze whilst they were running.

"I remember you!" Annabeth cried, "You were one of the undetermined kids in the Hermes cabin, years ago."

"Yeah, and you're Annabeth, daughter of Athena. I know."

"What happened to your eye?"

"It's like mine," Seth grinned, he shook off his hood which he had pulled on as they were escaping and all the demi-gods and Rachel could clearly see the red scar.

"Ethan, you must be the half-blood from my dream," Percy realised, "The one Luke's army cornered. It wasn't Nico after all!"

"Who's Nico?"

"What happened to Nico?" Seth asked.

"I don't know. We met him at Triple G Ranch. The last we heard from the owner was that he had descended into the Labyrinth again to finish his job, whatever it is."

Seth cursed in Ancient Greek and started pacing. "I told him that I would find him. Why in Tartarus did he move! If he is down here alone, Minos would have moved to get him by now." He punched one of the pillars holding up the ceiling.

"Did you say Minos?" Annabeth asked, "But he's dead!"

"Hades had a break out," Seth shook his head. "It is usually only my job to track down the souls and send them back to Hades, but he decided Nico should join me for this mission. We will talk about this later. Ethan, why were you there?"

"It's the only way to join up. Prove your worth in combat and they will let you into the army." Ethan struggled to his feet.

Annabeth started to get a suspicion, what had Antaeus and Luke said in the arena?

"I swear to your terms." Antaeus laughed as he jumped off the railing.

"Good luck. You'll need it." Ethan quickly backed up.

"I think Seth should join Perseus, Antaeus," Luke called, "After all, he still has more fights to do. Don't you, Seth?" Luke grinned. Seth nodded slightly, a small smile pulling at his lips.

Luke had said Seth had more fights to do, indicating that he had already fought.

"The gods never cared about any of us. Why shouldn't I –"

"Sign up to an army that makes you fight to the death for entertainment and to prove yourself? I wonder why you wouldn't do that," Annabeth raised an eyebrow.

"I'm not going to argue with you. Thanks for helping me, but I'm leaving."

"We're going after Daedalus. Come with us, Ethan. You'd be welcomed back at Camp." Percy tried to persuade Ethan.

"You are crazy if you think the old inventor will help you."

"He has to. We'll make him listen to us. I can be very persuasive." Annabeth smiled.

Seth hid a smile and Ethan snorted. "Well, good luck with that."

Percy grabbed Ethan's arm. "You're going to head off alone into the maze? I'm sure that's suicide."

"You shouldn't have spared me. War is no place to be merciful, Jackson. The sooner you learn that, the more chance you have of winning." Ethan then ran off, back the way they had come.

The group made camp in the room. Percy found some scrap wood and Seth lit it on fire.

"Something was wrong with Luke. Did you notice the way he was acting?" Annabeth asked.

"I was a little busy fighting for my life." Percy frowned.

"There was something wrong with him. He looked nervous. He told his monsters to spare Seth and I. he wanted to tell us something."

"Probably, 'Hi, Annabeth. Sit and watch while I tear your friends apart. It'll be fun!'"

"You're impossible." Annabeth muttered, "Seth, did he say anything to you, anything at all?"

"What I've got is that the Titans have something planned, something important involving Luke that will happen soon."

"So, which way now, Sacagawea?" Annabeth turned to Rachel.

"We'll follow the path, the brightness on the floor." Rachel was drawing figures on the floor, images of the monsters they'd seen. Seth was impressed at her pictures.

"The brightness that led us straight into the trap?"

"Annabeth, clear-sighted people see things differently than others. The path shows us where we need to go, the quickest route there. Not what is on the path," Seth sighed.

"The fire's getting low. I'll look for some scraps while you talk." Annabeth walked off into the shadows.

"Annabeth's not usually like this. I don't know what her problem is." Percy told Rachel. Seth was tempted to hit his head against the wall.

"Are you sure you don't know?" Rachel asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Boys, totally blind," She sighed.

"Hey, don't get on my case, too! Look, I'm sorry to get you involved in this."

"No, you were right. I can see the path! I can't explain it, but it's really clear. The workshop is that way, the heart of the maze, too. We are very close. I don't know why the path led through that arena. I'm sorry; I thought you were going to die."

"Don't worry, I'm usually about to die." Percy grinned.

"So, you do this every summer? Fight monsters, save the world? Don't you ever do normal stuff?"

"Half-bloods get used to it. What about you? What do you do normally?"

"I paint, and read a lot."

"And what about your family?" Percy asked curiously.

"They are… family."

"You said they wouldn't notice if you were gone, why?"

"I'm really tired. I'm going to sleep."

"Look… I'm sorry."

Rachel had curled up, using her backpack as a pillow.

"You know, I'm with the girls in this one," Seth snorted, "You are really oblivious."

"What do you mean?" Percy was confused.

"Do you really not know? You should, you have been through a lot. It isn't that hard to figure out." Seth said as he retired to a corner of the room, taking his cloak off and using it as a pillow. His T-Shirt moulded to his form perfectly.

The room shook and Seth woke up with a start. Annabeth was trying to wake up Percy so Seth woke up Rachel.

"Go!" Seth yelled. He held his hands up and the room stopped rumbling slightly. They made a run for the far tunnel, making it through as tons of marble crashed down behind them.

"I think I like this way," Annabeth said.

Soon light was visible up ahead.

"There," Rachel said.

She walked into a stainless steel hallway. The floor was a metal grate.

"This way," Rachel started running on. "We're close."

"This is all wrong!" Annabeth cried, "The workshop should be in the oldest part of the Labyrinth. This is so modern." They arrived at a double set of doors. A large blue Greek delta was inscribed at eye level.

"This is it," Seth muttered as he stepped towards the doors, making sure his hood was up he placed a finger against the symbol and the doors glowed blue before opening slowly.

"So much for ancient architecture," Percy snorted. Seth ignored the sarcasm and walked through the opening.

The sun blazed through massive windows and the ceiling was 30 feet high. Artist's easels were scattered around the room, elaborate sketches drawn on them that showed many ideas. One of them caught Seth's eye and he inspected it carefully before looking around him to make sure no one was watching and tore it down, putting it safely in a pocket.

"Di immortals!" Annabeth tried to look at all of the sketches, pausing when she came to the one Seth had torn off. "Look at all of these designs, he's a genius!"

A spiral staircase led up to a second floor. Laptops were on various tables and they had even more designs. Jars of Greek fire lined one shelf and Seth took some of them, thinking they would be useful. Mounted on the wall were several sets of bronze and silver wings.

"And an artist," Rachel agreed with Annabeth, "These wings are amazing!" The feathers looked tightly woven and were strapped together with adhesive strips.

"Where are we?" Percy asked, he was looking out the window at the view.

"Colorado Springs, The garden of the Gods."

Seth turned a knife already in his hand and threw it at the direction of the voice. It was caught an inch away from Quintus' throat.

"Thanks not a very nice way to treat an old friend, is it? That is the second time you have done that, now." Quintus threw the knife back at Seth and he caught it.

"I have only met you once before, Quintus." Seth replied as he pocketed the knife. "I can't exactly say you are an old friend." The older demigod shrugged and held his sword by his side.

"You, what have you done to Daedalus?" Annabeth asked.

"Trust me. You don't want to meet him." Quintus smiled faintly.

"He's right," Seth said, "Let's go." He started walking towards to exit but Rachel grabbed his cloak as he passed her.

"You're not going anywhere, Hell Boy," She smiled.

"Hell Boy?" Seth's glare could have possible frozen Hades.

"Well you are the son of Hades, and have lived in the Underworld for nearly your entire life, right?"

"How do you know that?"

"Percy and Annabeth told me," Rachel grinned.

Seth sighed and turned back to face Quintus, he was walking down the stairs with his sword at his side.

"You think I'm an agent of Kronos," He said, "That I work for Luke."

"What else are we supposed to think? You suddenly disappeared!" Annabeth scowled.

"You're an intelligent girl, daughter of Athena. But this time, you're wrong. I work only for myself."

"Luke mentioned you," Percy said "Geryon knew about you, too. You've been to his ranch. "

"I've been almost everywhere, young demigod; even here, a few times." He walked towards the window and looked out at the view. "The Labyrinth likes it here. I suppose it is fitting, The Garden of The Gods. The Labyrinth always goes to someplace high up."

"You've been here before," Percy stated.

"Oh, yes. I've been here a lot of times."

"Is that an illusion out there?" Percy asked.

"No. We are in Colorado, Percy," Seth replied, he was looking nervously at the door.

"You have clear-sight, don't you?" Quintus asked and Seth nodded sharply. "I once knew a lovely princess who also had clear-sight."

"Stop, enough games," Percy said, "Who are you and what have you done with Daedalus?"

"You need lessons on how to see, my friend. I am Daedalus."

Percy looked very confused. Seth snickered, Annabeth was looking at him in awe and Rachel was a little surprised.

"But you're not an inventor!" Percy said, "You're a swordsman."

"Is there really a difference? Many call swordsmanship an art." Quintus pointed out, "An artist must be good at many things."

"Well, you're good at tricking people," Seth said.

"I can paint with my feet and my hands." Rachel agreed.

"See, a girl that has many talents."

"You don't even look like Daedalus! I saw him in my dream and…" Percy trailed off.

"Ah! Yes, you've guessed the truth," Quintus said.

"You're an automaton. You made yourself a new body with the scroll you took off Perdix."

"That's…impossible." Annabeth said.

"It's not impossible, my dear; improbable. Do you know what Quintus means?"

"The fifth, but-"

"This is my fifth body." Quintus interrupted. He pressed his elbow and a hatch popped open, inside wires glowed.

"That's amazing!" Rachel cried.

"That's weird," Percy said.

"That's awesome," Seth laughed, "How did you-"

"If you're trying to distract me it won't work, Foniás," Quintus scowled.

"Well, it was worth a try."

"You transferred your animus into a machine? That's not natural," Annabeth said.

"I am still Daedalus. Our mother does not let me forget that." He showed them the base of his neck, on it was the dark shape of a bird. "As you can see, Athena is not very forgiving."

"A murderer's brand," Annabeth stated.

"It was because of your nephew, Perdix. The boy you pushed off the tower, wasn't it?" Percy guessed.

"I did not push him, I –"

"Made him lose his balance so he fell; you stood there as he hung on and let him die."

"I regret what I did greatly, Percy. I wish I could take it back, but alas, it is impossible. Athena never lets me forget what I did. No matter what body I make a small partridge is branded onto my neck – the bird that mother turned him into as he died.

"You are Daedalus," Percy realised. "But why-"

"Did I come to Camp? To see if the Camp was worth saving; Luke gave me one story, I needed to know the other side to come to my own conclusions."

"So you've talked to Luke."

"Yes, several times. His friends can be very persuasive."

"But now you've seen how great Camp is, you'll help us. You can't let Luke through the maze." Annabeth insisted.

"This maze is no longer mine, Annabeth. Yes, I created it. And yes, it is tied to my life force. I have allowed it to live and grow on its own. That is what I pay for having privacy."

"Privacy from what?"

"The gods and death, I have lived for millennia; trying to hide from death."

"You can't hide from Hades, Daedalus," Seth scoffed, "I was only supposed to bring Minos back to the Underworld, but I can easily bring another soul back with me."

"I have been wary recently, since you told me Minos escaped," Daedalus nodded, "He has been after me since he died, wanting to punish me for my crimes. So I decided that I wouldn't die so he could punish me, and I haven't."

"For two thousand years!" Annabeth cried in sick fascination.

Seth heard a thump and turned round to see a hellhound bound into the room.

"Mrs. O'Leary!" Daedalus smiled, "My old friend!"

"You let her save me, that whistle actually worked!"

"Of course it did! I wanted to save you, Percy. You have a good heart, I also felt guilty."

"Why did you feel guilty?"

"That your quest is in vain."

"What? How is it in vain? We have found you, now you can give us the string," Annabeth protested.

Luke has it, I apologise," Daedalus shook his head. "But you are several hours too late. I told him a mortal's sight is better, but he didn't listen. Kronos promised me freedom, to no longer run from death or Minos. Once Hades is overthrown he will allow me to control the Underworld. Minos' soul will be cast into Tartarus."

Seth glared heavily at Daedalus, and moved to get out a knife.

"That's your idea? You will let Luke destroy Camp, kill hundreds of demigods and then raze Olympus to the ground? Bring down the entire world, just to get what you want?" Annabeth yelled.

"You're doomed; Kronos has a massive army that easily dwarfs the hundred or so demigods that are at Camp."

"You're wrong!" Annabeth cried.

"Children of Athena are never wrong, my dear. I am doing the right thing, what must be done."

"You're just a machine; you are no child of Athena. We are supposed to be smart!" Annabeth yelled, "You're just clever, you have no wisdom!"

"You should warn your Camp. Now that Luke has the string he will-"

"Someone's coming," Rachel warned. The doors were opened and Nico was shoved into the room, his hands in chains. Seth immediately tried to run to him, but stopped when Kelli and two Laistrygonians followed him in. Behind them walked in Minos, he was almost completely solid now.

"There you are, my old friend!" Minos smiled at Daedalus.

"Let Nico go!" Seth roared he was clutching his knife so hard that his hand was trembling and white.

"What is the meaning of this?" Daedalus was pale and his jaw was clenched.

"Luke sends his compliments," Kelli trailed her claws across Nico's face and Seth started forward, stopping when she dug them in slightly. "He thought you would like to meet your old employer, Daedalus."

"This had nothing to do with our agreement."

"No, you are correct. However, we have other promises to fulfil and unfortunately for you, all Minos required to turn over Nico was your head."

"Treachery," Daedalus growled.

"Get used to it, old man."

"Is this how you do things now?" Seth asked his voice deadly calm. "Betray people left and right?" Kelli looked surprised but Seth could tell it was fake.

"Oh, is he your brother? I didn't know. Sorry Son of None," She smiled. Seth narrowed his eyes.

"Where is Luke?" Percy demanded, "Why isn't he here."

"Luke is... busy. He is preparing, and in the meantime I think I will have a wonderful meal of demigod." Kelli's hair burst into flames and her legs turned to their true forms.

"Percy, the wings-" Rachel whispered.

"Go," Seth looked furious. "Get them. I will hold them off." Annabeth and Percy charged Kelli whilst the giants attacked Daedalus. Nico started trying to get the chains off his hands. No one attacked Seth and he didn't seem too happy about that, with a feral growl he leapt at a giant and Mrs. O'Leary pounced on the other. Seth stabbed the giant in the back with his dagger; it went in the Laistrygonian's body up to the hilt and instantly killed it. Fire flickered in Seth's eyes as he turned to Minos and raised his hand, flames shot towards the King and he scrambled behind an overturned table. Seth clicked his fingers and Kelli's fire was extinguished. She screeched in surprise and turned to get a punch in the face. Seth remembered the Greek fire jars on a shelf and stretched his hand out to them, exploding the jars so that Greek fire started spreading around the room.

"To me, spirits of the dead!" Minos cried. He air began to hum and Nico finally managed to get the chains off his hands and stood up, his clothes were torn but Seth was relieved to see that he wasn't injured badly.

"No!"

"You do not control me! I am the Ghost King, all this time I have been watching you so that you would fall into my trap, and you did when you entered the maze again, this time alone!" Minos yelled.

"No!" Nico insisted, this time louder, "I am the son of Hades! I am the Ghost King!" He took his sword and stabbed it into the ground; it cut though the stone like butter.

"I will not-" Minos bellowed out as he began to be sucked into a fissure that had opened up. Windows cracked and the Labyrinth rumbled. The spirits Minos had summoned were sucked into the fissure after him. Seth looked at Percy in time to see Kelli on top of him; Annabeth was halfway across the room on the floor. He finally threw his knife and it hit the side of Kelli's head.

"Come on, Percy!" Rachel yelled she had all the wings ready to be used. Percy ran towards Annabeth and helped her up with a nod at Seth who was inspecting Nico for any damage.

"We have to help Daedalus!" Percy shouted.

"No time," Seth said as he slung Nico over his shoulder. "More are coming." He was right - voices were coming towards the workshop. Seth's eyes turned fiery and the entrance lit up, blocking the corridor. Rachel quickly attached the wings to Percy and Annabeth and offered them to Seth and Nico.

"I can fly." Seth refused.

"Daedalus!" Percy yelled, "Come on." Seth took one look at the old inventor and made up his mind.

"I'll stay. Get going, I'll meet you at Camp!"

"Are you-"

"Yes! Go!" Seth roared.

"But we don't know how to fly!" Nico protested.

"Extend and glide."

He four nodded and jumped out of the window whilst Seth turned to Daedalus, mentally asking himself which side of the war he was really on.

Seth's relationship poll:

Styx - 2

Thalia - 2

Artemis - 2

Zoe - 1

Rachel - 1

Hayley - 1

Aveline Poole - 1

Please vote in a review for Seth's relationship (Aveline is now on my profile)

I have probably 2 more chapters left in Battle of The Labyrinth

Then maybe 8-12 in The Last Olympian.

I need to know who to pair Seth up with.

I am accepting: Titanesses, Goddesses, and any mortals.

I NEED SOME MORE REVIEWS. WHEN ONE CHARACTER REACHES... 5 VOTES THEY WILL BE PAIRED WITH SETH